A Long Way Home

Why this book

Why you should read it

Clem Goetsch’s story is not a comfortable one. It passes through desert heat, barbed wire, a collapsing pit in the Austrian mountains, and the long silence of a man who came home broken.

But it does not end there. It ends with something far more powerful than survival: surrender, grace, and a life that changed hundreds of others. If you have ever felt lost, far from home, or wondered whether your life can still mean something, this book was written for you.

A father who would not stay silent

So many men of that generation carried the war home in silence. Clem told his story thousands of times over sixty years, and it changed thousands of lives.

No one is beyond redemption

Including the men who came home broken. Clem nearly ended his life at the Stutterheim Cenotaph. Five words stopped him.

How far one faithful life can reach

One act of sacrifice on a prisoners’ work detail, passed from Jock to Clem, and from Clem to everyone his story has touched since.

The story

From the Amathole hills to the Alpine snow

Clemence Goetsch was seventeen when he forged his father’s signature and enlisted in the Kaffrarian Rifles in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape. Too young, too eager and too proud to wait, he stepped onto a steam train and into the Second World War.

He was taken prisoner when Tobruk fell in June 1942, and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner in Italy and at Stalag XVIII-A in Austria. There he met Jock, the friend who would give his life for him.

He came home in 1945. But the war inside him had only just begun.

1940 – 1946

The Journey

From a small town in the Eastern Cape to the deserts of North Africa, the mountains of Austria, and the long road home. Choose a stop to follow Clem across the map.

In his own words

Clem on camera

Years ago my father sat down in front of a camera and told his story himself. We’re sharing it in short films, taken straight from that interview. More to come.

Watch the films

Archival photographs

Through the lens of history

Family photographs from Clem’s war, alongside archive images of the places he passed through. Click any photograph to enlarge.

May 1945 · In his own hand

“No” on every line

Days after liberation, Clem filled in a questionnaire for British military intelligence. On the first page he listed every camp he had passed through, from Naples and Rome to the work camp at St. Marein in Austria.

The second page was marked Top Secret. Had he escaped? Been interrogated? Seen sabotage? To every question he wrote one word: “No.” Then he signed an undertaking never to publish or speak of those matters.

The book tells the story the form leaves out.

Courtesy of the SA military records, Eastern Cape (declassified).

What readers are saying

Praise

“This is not just a war story. Not just a biography. It’s a map of invisible threads — a tapestry that connects strangers across generations. Jock Davies had no followers, no platform, no fame. But he had reach that still echoes into eternity. Think about that chain: Jock. Clem. Arnold. Michael. And I ask myself every day — who will be standing in your chain?”

Dr Michael MolPhysician, author & entrepreneur · Foreword author

“This is more than a war story — it is a journey of the soul. Through suffering, loss, and relentless hardship, A Long Way Home reveals a deeper truth: that no matter how far we run, we are never beyond the reach of God’s purpose. Rich in imagery and anchored in faith, this story will stir your heart and remind you that even in the darkest valleys, there is a path leading home.”

Tim MarksBestselling author · Voyage of a Viking · Confidence of a Champion

“This compelling biographical novel paints a sacred and unforgettable picture of a courageous young man who was forged in the fires of war, and refined by the grace of God. From the rugged hills of South Africa’s Eastern Cape to the blood-soaked fields of World War II, this book reveals a story of resilience, redemption, and purpose as the main character passes through the darkness of a POW camp to the light of Gospel ministry! With beautiful reverence, Gordon honors his father, who not only survived unimaginable difficulties, but then went on to live a life of significant spiritual impact, as he gave his life to the work of God, and touching countless lives with the unchanging power of the Gospel of Jesus.”

Pastor Jonathan MooreLead Pastor, Northrock Church, San Antonio, Texas

“As a Surgeon, I’ve spent my life pursuing clarity, precision, and healing — but few things have illuminated the deeper layers of human purpose like this remarkable book. My father was deeply influenced by the man whose story is captured so vividly in A Long Way Home, and now I understand why. Gordon Goetsch brings rare insight and grace to this powerful narrative. It’s not only a story of a life well lived, but of lives deeply changed. This book is a testament to legacy, faith, and the quiet strength of consistent influence. I wholeheartedly endorse it — for anyone seeking meaning, or for those who want to live a life that matters.”

Dr Duane Mol (MMed ORL)Otolaryngologist, Ear and Eye Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa

“This is a must-read. I couldn’t put it down. As someone who loves history and biographies that challenge me, I found this book deeply compelling. Gordon has done an incredible job weaving these elements together into a gripping narrative that inspires you to stand strong in the face of adversity. I had only ever heard about Clem — his story and influence passed down through others — so it was remarkable to finally meet him in my early forties. The man I met was nothing like the figure I imagined. Based on the stories, I expected someone intimidating and forceful. Instead, I found a strong, gentle, kind, and deeply caring man. Reading this book has brought that version of Clem into even sharper focus. I now have a deeper appreciation for the work God did in and through his life, and for the extraordinary impact he had on the Kingdom. What a gift to the Church.”

John AbrahamseFounder of J-Life Africa · Movement Catalyst Director, Concentric Global

“Once I started reading A Long Way Home it was hard to put the book down. Many years ago, Clem Goetsch personally gave me a summarised version of his story. It had a dramatic impact on my life because it brought me to faith in Christ. I am therefore delighted that his son, Gordon, has put this riveting story in book form. As I read this easy-to-read book I was once again gripped by the narratives and the amazing confirmation of Jesus’ claim that He came to seek the lost, and that He doesn’t give up!”

Dr Arnold MolInternational speaker and author

“A Long Way Home will capture your imagination, engage your emotions, and inspire your faith. From cover-to-cover, you will walk in the shoes of those who have gone before you. You will feel as though you are there. You cannot read this story of Clem Goetsch and walk away unchanged. It will grab you and cut you to the heart. This book is a gift to all who seek a life worth living. A life of faith. A life that overcomes adversity. A life that inspires.”

Jim PiperLeadership advisor, author & teacher, Lead Today Community · Executive Pastor, NorthRock Church, San Antonio

“Gordon has written a gripping story of hope and purpose. This book is fascinating but the truths that you need for your life are laced throughout in a compelling way that will challenge you and call you higher.”

Pastor Matt MartinPastor, author, leadership coach · Executive Pastor, Northrock Church, San Antonio

Available now

Read the whole story

Every page is drawn from Clem’s own memoirs, recorded interviews, war archives, and the memories of family and friends on three continents.

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The storyteller

About the author

Gordon Goetsch grew up hearing the name Clemence Goetsch spoken with reverence: a father whose life became a living testimony to the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ. Clem returned from the war a broken man. He had survived the fall of Tobruk, years in Italian and Austrian prisoner-of-war camps, and the long road home, but the man inside the uniform had nearly disappeared.

On 14 December 1946 he stood at the Cenotaph in Stutterheim with two wreaths: one for Jock, the friend who had given his life to save Clem’s in a collapsing pit in the Austrian mountains, and one for himself. He had come to end his life. It was there, before the darkness closed the door, that a young woman named Phyllis stepped out of the shadows and spoke five words that changed everything: “Clem, God still loves you.” That encounter became the turning point of his life, and Phyllis became his wife.

What followed was fifty years of remarkable, life-transforming ministry. Clem and Phyllis carried the hope he had found into the lives of tens of thousands of broken people around the world. They eventually retired to the South Coast property of their middle son, Peter John, where Clem continued to share his story until his passing at the age of 98.

Before he died, Clem published a short biographical devotional booklet. That booklet became the seed of this book. A husband, father, success coach and public speaker based in San Antonio, Texas, Gordon carries the same conviction: that no life is beyond redemption, and no road home is too long.